Zens Korean BBQ is a restaurant managed by a Korean family from Seoul. It is located along the row of bungalows/restaurants in Jalan Ara. The decor is minimal, but the zen-like ambiance is ideal for nice lunches and dinners. rif’s sister had her wedding lunch there recently — and I was surprised the restaurant could fit 150 guests comfortably. Lunch was buffet style; I don’t think the bride and groom wanted to smell like grilled meat on their big day. Bulgogi is one of my favourite Korean dishes, and judging from lunch that day, it was everyone’s favourite too. The thinly-sliced beef and onions were seasoned with sweet soy sauce and pear juice. If only no one was looking — I would have drank all the gravy! I enjoyed the Korean glass noodles. Cooked with mushroom slices and scallions, the noodles had a nice, firm bite. It had a good balance of flavours without being overly oily, soggy or dry. The kimchi was by far the best tasting kimchi I have eaten. Spicy, tangy, crunchy and pungent with a hint of sweetness, I can only imagine how good their kimchi jjigae would taste like.Another favourite of mine was the Korean pancake. Zens’ version was crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. I didn’t care much for the Korean Fried Chicken. It was a tad dry for me, especially the chicken breast.

Service was too effective — empty plates were cleared, but the waiters also cleared the cutlery without asking the guests if they were still using them. I enjoyed most of the dishes, especially the kimchi, bulgogi and pajeon. They also have set lunches for RM15 on weekdays, which I am planning to try soon.

Ambiance: 6.5/10Price: 6/10Food: 6.5/10 (non-halal)Verdict: The food is quite good, and their set meals are quite reasonable.